FAQ

No. All courses are conducted in person with a trainer. There is currently no allowance for online courses via Zoom, Facetime etc.

We are currently running courses only for small same-household groups of at least 3. These are done in person with strict COVID safe measures in place. 

If you reside in an LGA that is listed as an ‘area of concern’, you will have to wait until restrictions ease or lockdown ends. 

Yes, Sailingworld pty ltd t/a Boating Licence Course (ACN # 092 478 718 | RTO # 91229) is approved by NSW Maritime to provide practical boat training and/or knowledge testing for the NSW general boat driving licence and PWC driving licence.

Absolutely. All trainers have a current Certificate 4 in Training & Assessment, a valid Working With Children check, a current NSW Police Check, current First Aid certificate and are accredited by NSW Maritime to deliver the NSW boat & PWC licence course.

Qualifications are kept up to date to ensure you only get taught by qualified, accredited trainers.

We make it easy for you to get your boat licence. After successfully completing the test, take the paperwork we’ve given you on the day, along with your completed logbook (if not doing practical), to ServiceNSW. You’ll be able to purchase your licence there and then without doing any further tests. See here for more details.

You’ll need to already have, or be doing at the same course, the NSW boat licence. You cannot obtain a PWC licence on it’s own without a boat licence. Once you’re done with us, simply take the paperwork to ServiceNSW to upgrade your boat licence to the PWC. No practical is required for this licence. See here for details.

Upon successful completion, you need to take our paperwork along with a completed logbook into Service NSW within 12 months from the date of the course. There are no further tests required at Service NSW. 

Assuming your logbook is already completed, you can do this same-day.

Your ID and a smile! We also offer some pre-course material which we recommend you bring to the course as well.

No. However you will likely require them when you go to Service NSW.

Bookings are made over the phone with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express debit/credit card prior to the course. We cannot accept EFTPOS cards. Cash at the course is not accepted. Receipts are available upon request.

Sizes vary depending on location and time of year, but generally a dozen or so students per course.

Absolutely! What better way to get into the fun boating has to offer than to learn from professional, experienced skippers? We keep the learning at a level suitable for beginners, so every student can follow along for a simple, enjoyable course.

Students must be 12 & up to obtain a NSW general boat licence and/or PWC licence. Students aged 16 & up will qualify for the full ‘adult’ licence

You can book your place by giving us a call on (02) 9524 5678 8:30am to 6pm, Mon – Sat (Winter hours may vary). We’ll require payment upon booking. Cash only on the night is not accepted as we need to allocate tickets.

Boat & PWC licence sessions are run every week of the year, with some weeks favouring certain locations over others. You’ll need to call us to get the next date. Our helpful staff will help you select a date that suits you.

As per company policy, once you reserve your seat in any given class, you are securing a space and others may be denied the opportunity to attend. Consequently, we reserve the right to refuse your rescheduling to another class. Boating Licence Course also reserves the right to reschedule any given class due to circumstances beyond our control. If we must reschedule a class, you’ll be given the opportunity to attend any class given by us within 1 year or to a full refund.

If you absolutely cannot attend your booked course, you may be charged an administrative fee to reschedule. 

The logbook is a simple, self guided checklist that you’ll need to complete to obtain the NSW general boat licence. Click here to download a copy, or you can visit any ServiceNSW to pick one up free of charge. The logbook is an essential requirement for those who choose to go on & get a NSW boat licence. It’s designed to help you learn how to operate your vessel & learn your waterways at your own pace. We recommend you complete the logbook for every trip you make, not just for the required 3 times. 

There is no practical required for the PWC licence.

No. Once the certificate has gone past 12 months from date of issue, you will need to re-attend a course and re-sit the test. If you do not want to do this, you can simply attempt the test at ServiceNSW instead.

Despite current events, we are still unable to extend the date on previous certificates, so please make sure you take it into ServiceNSW within the allotted timeframe.

Assuming it is within the 12 month expiry period, we are able to recreate your paperwork. You will need to attend the beginning of a course, show your ID and sign for the new form. All forms are dated from the original date of your test/course and cannot be future-dated to include another 12 months. 

Doing this will depend on the availability of courses/trainers in your area at the time, so please do not leave this to the final days as we may not be able to recreate it before it expires.

An administrative fee of $40 applies to recreate lost paperwork. You will need to book this service in via phone before attending.

Forms cannot be emailed, posted or sent to you using any other method. They are government-accredited certificates so we must abide by all applicable rules and laws.

Guaranteeing a pass to get a licence puts yourself and the boating community at risk so no one should expect to be passed through without a substantial understanding of the rules of the water. Thankfully, our experience in training and knowledge of boating safety helps the overwhelming majority of students pass on day 1. 

Whilst we understand no one wants to fail a test, we must abide by Transport for NSW (NSW Maritime) rules thus strict testing rules will apply. You may be allowed more than one attempt on the day but multiple failed attempts will mean you may need to re-attend another course after some more study.

Ticket prices & descriptions are available here.

Proof Of Identity (POI – also called ‘ID’ on this page) is a must at the commencement of the course. It must meet the criteria outlined in the POI brochure. 

As an example, for adults (ages 16 & up), a valid NSW photo drivers licence is acceptable. 

For students aged under 16 years, a birth certificate is great. For these students only, we’ll also need their mum or dad at the course, also with POI, to pass the ID check.  

As per company policy, all sales are final. In the event that you cannot attend the course, refunds are not available.

All students aged 12 to up to 16 years are required to have their mum or dad at the course, also with ID, to sign the student declaration on the licence application. This cannot be done before or after the course. 

If a student in the age range does not have the ability to get a parent to sign them in, please contact us prior to attending. 

Grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunties or any other family members or friends are not able to sign the student declaration. It needs to be the parent of the child.